44 45 \ ALTITUDE culture The Wine Museum is the only museum in Valais - Switzerland's largest wine-growing canton - dedicated to vines and wine. It stands out for its innovative and accessible exhibitions and its rich programme of events and tours. The museum is open fromMarch to November and is a 20-minute drive from Crans-Montana. DISCOVERING A THOUSAND YEARS OF MOUNTAIN VITICULTURE The Valais is an ancient wine-growing region, renowned for the quality and diversity of its wines. In the centre of the wine-growing village of Salgesch, theWine Museum's permanent exhibition traces the history of this exceptional viticulture, fuelled by tradition and passion. As you wander through the thirteen rooms of the museum, you'll discover all the facets of this unique heritage : the skills of the winegrowers, the role of the terroirs, the time of the harvest, the secrets of cellaring, the ways of drinking, the image of wine and the art of tasting. A NEW EXHIBITION EVERY YEAR The museum’s second location, in the grounds of the Château de Villa in Sierre, focuses on a new wine-related theme each year in an original temporary exhibition. These exhibitions are often accompanied by a book. Until 30 November, this year's exhibition takes visitors on a journey around the world to discover some surprising and inventive vineyards (see box). PRESERVING AND PROMOTING For more than thirty years, the Wine Museum has been dedicated to preserving and showcasing the traditions of viticulture in the Valais. Through interdisciplinary projects, exhibitions, reference publications, documenting the objects in its collection and developing cultural outreach activities themuseumplaysavital role inpreserving local wine heritage. Since 2020, its collection has been recognised as being of cantonal importance, a cornerstone of the region’s cultural memory. A TRAIL THROUGH THE HEART OF THE VINEYARDS Linking Sierre and Salgesch and the two exhibition areas, a wine trail completes the Wine Museum's attraction. The 6-kilometre trail is dotted with explanatory panels in French and German, presenting the vineyards in all their different guises. It leads from the Sier districts of Villa and Muraz – linked to the seasonal migration of the farmers and winegrowers of the Val d'Anniviers - to Veyras, where several artists have lived (Rainer Maria Rilke, Maurice Chappaz, Corinna Bille, Charles-Clos Olsommer and Gérard de Palézieux). The trail passes through the Bernunes vineyards, giving an insight into Valais's rich wine-growing heritage and methods. At this point, a picnic area provides a welcome break in the middle of this walk, which takes around 2 hours 30 minutes. Spanning the Raspille, the canton's linguistic border, the trail unites the German-speaking and French-speaking parts of Valais. The path weaves together both cultures amidst stunning landscapes. One of the highlights is the striking Salgesch pyramids, a natural wonder but lesser well-known than the Euseigne pyramids. DESTINATION VIN: AN INTERACTIVE JOURNEY THROUGH INVENTIVE VINEYARDS Although the Valais is Switzerland's largest wine-producing canton, it is insignificant on a global scale. But Valais winegrowing has a number of distinctive features. What are they, and are they present in other vineyards around the world ? The temporary exhibition at the Wine Museum has fun comparing the Valais with other wine-producing regions around the world. Destination Vin takes visitors on an immersiveand interactive journey todiscover some surprising and inventive vineyards. The exhibition is on show in French, German and English until 30 November 2025 at the Musée du Vin - Sierre. PRACTICAL INFORMATION OPENING HOURS OF THE MUSEUM From March to November Wednesday to Friday 14h-18h Saturday and Sunday 11h-18h GUIDED VISITS Available on request throughout the year ADDRESSES Musée du Vin – Sierre Rue Ste-Catherine 6 3960 Sierre Musée du Vin – Salgesch Museumsplatz 1 3970 Salgesch CONTACT +41 (0)27 456 35 25 contact@museeduvin-valais.ch www.museeduvin-valais.ch © Olivier Maire
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